The Health and Wellness Ministry says there is no case of measles in Jamaica, even as it urges caution amidst a case rise in the Americas.

Jamaica has had no local spread  of measles since 1991 with the last imported case reported in 2011.

The ministry says it notes advice from the Pan American Health Organization PAHO, which recommends that member states continue their efforts to sustain the elimination of measles, rubella, and Congenital Rubella Syndrome in  the region. 

PAHO says the risk of outbreaks has increased, given the surge in measles cases worldwide, coupled with factors such as low coverage of the first and second doses of Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccine (MMR1 and MMR2) in most countries  in the region and gaps in the performance of integrated measles/rubella surveillance indicators.

The agency also cites the  significant increase in  movement of people within the Americas  and from other regions of the world and the increase in dengue cases in the region, which could mask potential measles or rubella cases, due to the similarity of the clinical manifestations of these diseases.

The Health Ministry says while there is  no local or imported case of measles in the country, Jamaica maintains a robust surveillance system for fever and rash and all cases are reported within 24 hours, while suspected measles cases are reported immediately.

Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Jacquiline Bisasor-Mckenzie, notes that most cases of measles are mild, and symptoms usually appear 10-12 days after exposure to an infected person ,but may appear as early as seven days and as late as 21 days after exposure. 

Measles typically begins with a high fever, cough, runny nose and red, watery eyes.

Three to five days after symptoms begin, a rash breaks out, usually as flat red spots that appear on the face at the hairline and spread downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs, and  feet. 

Small, raised bumps may also appear on top of the flat red spots.

The further cautions that complications from measles include ear infection and diarrhea, while severe complications include pneumonia, swelling of the brain and death. 

Infected pregnant women may give birth prematurely or have a low-birth-weight baby.

Measles is a highly contagious illness caused by a virus that replicates in the nose and throat  of an infected child or adult. 

to stop the disease from spreading, if there is an outbreak,  95 per cent of children in Jamaica need to be fully vaccinated with the two doses-MMR1 at 12 months and MMR2 at 18 months.

Jamaica’s vaccination coverage for MMR has been relatively high over the years, with preliminary figures for 2024 at 94 per cent for MMR1 and 93 per cent for  MMR2.

The target of at least 95 per cent has not been met. 

The ministry is reminding  all parents/guardians to ensure their children’s MMR vaccination status is up to date for their age to ensure the best protection against measles.